Best Rat Trap

It’s the stuff of nightmares for many people. Seeing a rat or even rat droppings in or around the house is enough to set almost anyone’s heart racing. Rats have been the object of fear and revulsion for centuries. They are well known as transmitters of diseases, and they have been known to bite or scratch people and pets.

What Is The Best Rat Trap in 2018?

Name	Humane	Kills	Amazon
Ankace	no	mouse, rats	$15.99
Made2catch	yes	rats and other bigger rodents	$15.37
Kat Sense	yes	rats	$16.97
Guarden	no	rats, gophers, voles, mice	$17.99
Rat Zapper	yes	mice and rats	$75.98
Havahart	yes	chipmunk, rats, catching squirrels, flying squirrels, and similar-size nuisance animals	$179.94
Victor	no	rats	$20.95
Tomcat	no	rats	$4.97
Refillable	no	rats and mice	$15.99
AmazingTraps	yes	rats, squirrels, birds, opossums, lizards, rabbits, chipmunks, weasels, including pets	$16.96

Any household may have a rat problem at one time or another. These crafty and determined pests are not particularly picky about where they live or where their next meal comes from. This means that most homes, and even many businesses, may be susceptible to infestation.

Keep Rats Out

If you believe that you have a rat problem, then the first thing to do is to figure out how they are getting into your home or office. Sealing up these entrances, which may be as small as the diameter of a quarter, will prevent any rodents from entering the premises.

It also may be important to tidy up the yard, make certain that all trash cans have tight lids and to trim trees back from structures so that they don’t touch.

Consider Getting Rat Traps

Once you start looking, you’ll quickly realize that you have many options for rat traps. Some of them are designed to instantly kill pests. Others are entirely non-lethal. You may not be bothered by the sight of a dead animal, while someone else may never want to see what the trap has accomplished. There is something on this list for all of these preferences.

1. Ankace Mouse/Rat Trap

Bait loads easily from the bottom so that you won’t have to risk hurting your fingers. When the trap claims a victim, carry it over to the garbage, squeeze the end of the trap and drop the rodent into the garbage. Rinse off with water and reload the bait to use again. Rodents weighing as little as 15 grams can set off the traps.

2. Made2catch Classic Metal Rat Trap Fully Galvanized – Editor’s Choice

A household that is being bothered by large rats will probably be interested in this product. Available in a set of four, each trap is made of galvanized metal. Accordingly, they are heavy and incredibly durable. Each one can be used over and over again for an extended period of time. A pedal design and powerful spring ensure a quick, clean kill.

3. Kat Sense Large Rat Trap – Instant Kill

Available in packages of four or six traps, this product is designed to minimize false triggers so that you are more likely to get a kill every time you set out the traps. The trigger mechanism is incredibly responsive, which may make these traps effective for mice in addition to rats. With an integrated bait cup, it’s easier than ever before to entice rodents into the trap.

4. Guarden Rat Traps

This product is equipped with a set of truly terrifying rat-killing jaws. Unlike traditional designs that kill with a simple bar, this one is more likely to kill the rat on contact, rather than allowing it to suffer. In fact, this item is warranted to have in excess of 30 percent more force when compared to traditional traps. The trigger is described by the manufacturer as being “hair sensitive,” so there’s no reason why a rat or other large rodent would not set off the device.

5. Rat Zapper Classic Rat Trap – No Touch, No See Disposal – 8000 Volts Kill

With a light on the exterior of the enclosed trap, it’s easy to see when a rodent has been trapped or when the batteries are getting low. The bait is placed in the back wall of the compartment, which lures the rodent onto a set of metal plates. Once triggered, the plates deliver 8,000 volts of electricity for two full minutes. This ensures a quick death. Users can then open the door on the trap and tip the contents into the garbage. It’s a quick, efficient and sanitary system.

6. Havahart 0745 One-Door Animal Trap – Humane Trap For Rats

All internal edges on the inside of the trap are smooth to minimize the opportunities for the trapped animal to hurt itself. On the top of the trap, you’ll find a convenient handle that makes it easy to carry the trap elsewhere. This metal trap is designed to resist rust and corrosion so that it can be used for years. The manufacturer recommends taking the captured animal a minimum of two miles from the site of capture.

7. Victor Metal Pedal Rat Trap – Cheapest Trap Pack

Available in a 12-pack for about $21, this is a pretty good deal. This also is probably the most traditional style rat trap on this list as it has a wooden base and a sturdy metal wire that comes down to trap and kill the rodent. Made in the USA, this product is constructed from sustainably harvested lumber. This company has been in operation since 1898, and the basic design of their rat trap hasn’t evolved too much over the intervening decades. With more than one million traps sold, it’s clear that this company is doing something right.

8. Tomcat Rat Snap Trap

This trap’s name might be a bit of a tongue twister, but it is certainly an effective product. One of its definite advantages is that it can be set by hand or foot, thus saving your fingers from any painful pinches. Additionally, the bait cup is removed from the bottom of the trap for filling, which also keeps you safe from harm. So, that’s good news because this trap has a particularly aggressive design that includes a set of powerful jaws that are designed to instantly kill rodents on contact.

9. Tomcat Rat Killer II Tier 1 Refillable Rat Bait Station – Kid & Dog Resistant

The enclosed rat bait station has tamper-proof security measures in place to ensure that only smaller rodents will be able to access the poison. Bait blocks weighing 30 grams are loaded into the station. Each block has the potential to kill three rats. A clear window in the top of the unit allows consumers to monitor the bait.

10. Amazing Traps The Amazing Humane Rat Trap with Starter Bait

These aluminum, catch-them-alive traps resist corrosion and rust. In fact, the manufacturer says that you could get a lifetime of use out of this product. It comes with starter bait, but you can use any food that might be attractive to rodents as a safe, non-toxic alternative.

Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the best rat trap is a highly personal decision. Some people merely want to relocate the pest species because they intensely dislike the idea of killing another living being. Others have no difficulty with killing rodents, particularly if there’s a good chance that the pests spread diseases.

The fact is that rats are widely recognized as vermin that spread a multitude of illnesses to people and pets. So this, coupled with their sometimes fearless reaction to be confronted, causes many people to live in fear when they know they have a rat problem.

It’s best to be vigilant and act quickly when you suspect that rats or similar rodents are settling in or near your home. This minimizes your exposure to these pests and protects your family, food, and property. An important first step is to seriously consider whether or not you’re willing to kill the animals that are plaguing you.

Choosing a Lethal Option

First of all, the lethal traps that are presented on this list are designed to kill quickly. That said, rodents and other animals may behave unpredictably. This may mean that a rat gets caught in a trap, but does not immediately die. When they are trapped, rats may scream and thrash. Many people find this behavior extremely upsetting. It is never easy to approach a wild animal that is injured and suffering. Nonetheless, it may be necessary to find means of ending the creature’s suffering.

If you don’t believe that you are capable of drowning or otherwise directly killing an animal, then a lethal trap may not be the right choice for you.

Is Poison the Right Method?

Another lethal option is to go with poison. Only one such option is presented on this list, and this one is included only because it is specially designed to resist the efforts of kids and pets to tamper with it. Still, the manufacturer recommends placing the bait station in a spot that children and domesticated animals are unable or unlikely to go.

Other products that rely on poison do not sufficiently protect kids and pets from exposure to toxins. If poison seems like a reasonable option to you, then it makes sense to carefully choose the right product. It’s vital that you protect not only the members of your household, but also those of your neighbors.

Options That Don’t Harm the Animal

The non-lethal options presented on this list are an excellent choice for those who do not want to cause any animal to suffer. These methods are akin to catch and release fishing, except that you will be releasing the animal at a sufficient distance from your property. A good rule of thumb is between three and five miles.

However, it’s just a good idea to check with local authorities to see what kind of rules they have about releasing animals. It may be that you have to travel farther afield to find a release site that won’t get you in trouble with the law.

This catch and release method may seem a bit more time consuming than the lethal methods. For some people, it is still the only choice as they cannot picture themselves intentionally being the cause of an animal’s death.

Take Care During Transport

Caution must be exercised when transporting wild animals. Wearing heavy gloves, covering the cage with an old towel or blanket and holding the caged animal well away from your body are all recommended to minimize the chances of contact. Rats do spread a variety of diseases to people, and they don’t necessarily need to bite or scratch to do so.

Safer for Pets and Desirable Wildlife

Another reason to choose a non-lethal rat solution is that these cages do not harm pets, birds or other desirable wildlife. While any animal could potentially be injured by a snapping rat trap, the same cannot be said for catch-them-alive traps. If you’re really concerned about other animals in your area, then this is the way to go.

Always Read Instructions

Regardless of which rat trap you choose, you will always get the best results when you follow the instructions to the letter. The instructions may provide advice regarding where to set up the trap. Just as important are the directives regarding how to bait and set the trap. Failing to follow any of these rules may mean that your trapping endeavors are not as successful as you hoped they would be.

Be Careful!

Setting rat traps can be a dangerous affair. Again, it is critical that you always read and follow instructions to avoid hurting yourself. People have actually broken their fingers by getting them stuck in a trap.

Choose the Best Rat Trap

Use the information contained in this article to help you make an informed choice about rat traps. Choosing the right trap will protect you, your family and your property while also helping you to get rid of a troubling problem.